During the 6th Thematic Working Group and Steering Group meeting in Milan last June (2019), the SWARE partnership met to discuss the first results of the phase 2 action plan implementation progress. All partners shared inspiring stories of progress on individual projects related to SWARE or policy change happening within their region because of the SWARE project. With the 6th TWG, partners also started preparing for the final year of thematic activities of the project.

Two important issues were discussed as well. First, the final conference, which will be a thematic conclusion to the SWARE project and will highlight the results of the project and how these could be integrated in the future policy development. Secondly, the Joint Policy Recommendations, which marked the result of 2,5 years of interregional knowledge exchange between five European regions. These recommendations were the result of the many sessions organized during phase 1 of the project. With these policy recommendations, the SWARE partnership would like to influence policymakers on a European level, but also inspire and engage regional stakeholders to think about necessary change in their regions to stimulate a better sustainable management of waterway regions. Within the document recommendations on three subthemes are made:  

1) On EU cooperation policy, structures and programmes

2) On dissemination and EU-“awareness”

3) On investing in the future

The full text of the document will be available soon in the Library section here on the SWARE project website.

INTERREG Europe also facilitates continuous learning for the policy-making community in Europe. The Policy Learning Platform (https://www.interregeurope.eu/policylearning/) is open to all policymakers in Europe and allows you to access support and expertise, access to the good practice database, share knowledge and be part of the European community.

The SWARE project is implemented with the support of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the INTERREG Europe Programme 2014 – 2020. This publication reflects the author’s views only and the INTERREG Europe Programme authorities are not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.